When children see the prevalence of science in everyday life and are exposed to the excitement of scientific discovery first hand, they are more likely to develop a lifelong appreciation for and understanding of scientific concepts. Such is the idea behind Science Day, an innovative, daylong program at Hillside Elementary School in Roswell, designed to expose students to the wonders of the natural world.

Last Friday the large-scale event was dedicated to exposing, inspiring and engaging people in the Hillside community, and beyond, with the wonders of science.

All students, from kindergarten through fifth grade, worked in collaborative groups, studied fundamental science concepts and acquired real-life experiences and problem-solving skills as they delved into grade-appropriate, skill-based experiments.

“If we are to increase the science literacy of our community, we need to show that science, math, and engineering are relevant and exciting. Science Day helps to generate curiosity about science and promotes a positive mindset, but it also provides an innovative way to integrate science into writing, reading and mathematics — as well as character building and teamwork,” said Maisha Otway, principal of Hillside Elementary School.

Each class experienced both demonstrations performed by teachers and hands-on experiments executed by the students. They also learned about the scientific method through a journaling process — pictures for kindergarteners, progressing to sophisticated note-taking at the fifth grade level.

All experiments — 200 to 250 performed throughout the course of the day — were directly linked to specific Georgia Performance Standards for Science and Mathematics.

For the fifth year in a row, Hillside Elementary won a Sawnee EMC Bright Ideas Grant for Science Day.

With the help of this grant, the school has continued to expand Science Day by purchasing better equipment, involving community leaders and sharing their knowledge with surrounding schools.

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